Linked Server Connection Issues...

I have the following connectivity issues when querying a
linked server:
Base Server[s]:
SQL Server 2000 (32 and 64-bit) sp3
SQL instances listening on port 1433
Windows Server 2000 and 2003 (32 and 64-bit) (clustered
and stand-alone configurations)
Reside on same subnet
Linked Server:
SQL Server 2000 (32-bit) sp3
Virtual SQL instance listening on port 1433
Windows Server 2000 (clustered)
Reside on a different subnet
When I expand the Linked Server and click on Tables, I
eventually get a General Network Error: Check your
Network Documentation message.
When I try a query using the OPENQUERY function, I get
the same error after a 35 second interval, regardless of
the base server that I am using. The remote query
timeout on the Linked Server is set for 1200 seconds.
This is not a login issue because I can connect via Query
Analyzer and register with Enterprise Manager.
I can also create a Linked Server going in the opposite
direction from the configuration listed above.
I can create a Linked Server from a different subnet and
use the OPENQUERY function without any errors.
There are no firewalls between the servers and no ACLs on
the router. All servers are connecting through the same
switch.
The only thing I have noticed different is the absence of
the VIA (Gigabit) [ssmsgnet.dll] and VIA (Server Net II)
[ssmssnet.dll] netowrk libraries on the Base Servers
listed above.
Any information or help will greatly be appreciated!
Thanks,
Greg
Hi Greg,
General network errors are often hard to diagnose in this format. I
would suggest making some network traces on both the client and server, and
opening up a Support Case with a SQL Engineer.
Thanks,
Kevin McDonnell
Microsoft Corporation
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